Elevator mechanism for operating tilting buckets or the like on vehicles



Jan. 16, 1968 LABLANCHE 3,363,944

ELEVA MEGHAN FOR OPERATING TILTING B KETS OR L LES Filed Marc IKE ON VEHIC h 4, 1966 I m WajfNTOR BY fl w United States Patent Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An elevator mechanism for tilting a bucket carried on a vehicle and comprising a tie rod pivoted on said bucket, an extending jack pivoted on said bucket at a different point from that of said tie rod and ahead thereof with respect to the vehicle, a triangular lever, pivot points at two of the apices thereof for said link and said jack, a pivot for the rear of said bucket and a pivot interconnecting said triangular lever and the chassis of said vehicle, the locations of said pivots being such that the centre lines of said link and said jack intersect during bucket movement. When the jack (2) extends, the triangular lever (3) tilts as indicated by arrow (13), and the tie rod (1) raises in the direction of arrow (12). Therefore, bucket B is tilted rearwardly. The force applied to bucket B, specially at the beginning of the movement, is applied with a long leverage with respect to axis C.

The present invention relates to improvements in elevator mechanisms of the type used on lorries for operating tilting buckets or the like.

The object of the invention is to produce such a device capable of being mounted as a superstructure on an existing chassis, and occupying a minimum height between the chassis and the bucket, while the tilting angle of the latter may be large without producing undue stresses necessitating reinforcement of the chassis.

An elevating mechanism according to the invention comprises a tie rod pivoted at one end on the chassis of the vehicle and, at its other end, on the first apex of a triangular lever, the second apex of which pivots about an axis provided under the bucket while the third apex of this lever, preferably an obtuse angle, is mounted to rotate on one of the ends of a lifting jack, the other end of which is linked to the chassis at a point different from that of the articulation of the tie rod, so that the centre lines of the lifting jack and the tie rod intersect.

Such a device makes it possible to increase the leverage of the jack, particularly at the beginning of the lifting action; the lifting force is applied to the bucket while the direction of application of this force passes through the articulating point of the triangular lever on the bucket and through the point of intersection of the centre lines of the tie rod and the jack.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a lorry fitted with an elevating mechanism according to the invention, the bucket being shown in its lowest position;

FIG. 2 is a partial view on a magnified scale showing details of the mechanism in the process of tilting the bucket;

FIG. 3 shows the bucket at the end of the tilting operation; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing a modification.

The elevating mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is 3,363,944 Patented Jan. 16, 1968 adapted to be mounted between the chassis A of the vehicle and a tiltable bucket B which is pivotable about an axis C.

This mechanism is formed by three main members, a tie rod 1, a lifting jack 2 and a triangular lever 3. Only the triangular lever 3 carries a bending moment, the tie rod operating in tension while the jack operates in compresslon.

The lever 3 is constructed with a triangular profile, the first apex of which carries a pivot pin 4, while the second apex pivots about a pin 5, the third being provided with a pivot pin 6. The triangular profile of the lever 3 has an obtuse angularity at the third apex.

The pin 5 pivotably connects the corresponding apex of the lever 3 with a plate on the lower face of the bucket B.

When the bucket B is in a lowered position, the tri angular lever 3 extends substantially horizontally above the chassis A the pin 4 being located forwardly of the pin 5. The pin 4 is located on the front end of the tie rod 1, the other end of which pivots about a pivot pin 7 carried by the chassis A. In this position, the pin 6 is located between the pins 4 and 5 and above the line which connects them. It is articulated to the front end of the jack 2, the rear end of which is pivoted on a pin 8 carried by the chassis A. The shaft 8 is located forwardly of the pin 7 and at a lower level so that the axes of the jack 2 and the tie rod 1 intersect when the mechanism is viewed in elevation, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Their point of intersection is displaced to a limit position shown in FIG. 3, in which the three pins 746 are approximately in alignment.

Since the members 1 and 2 are pivotably connected at both their ends, it will be understood that the thrust force F (FIG. 2) exerted on the bucket B necessarily passes through the pin 5 and through the intersection 9 of the axes of the tie rod 1 and the jack 2. It will be seen that in the starting position, this force F acts on a line It) which makes only a small angle with the horizontal and consequently provides a long leverage 11.

The operation is as follows:

When the unit is in the starting position (FIG. 1), it is only necessary to extend the jack 2 to cause the tilting of the bucket. This extension raises the triangular lever 3 and subjects the bucket B to the aforementioned force F, while the tie rod 1 acts in tension.

It will be understood that this movement simultaneously causes the tilting of the tie rod 1 about the pin 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow 12 (FIG. 3) and the pivoting of the triangular lever 3 about the pin 6 in the direction of the arrow 13. These two rotations are added to each other and consequently permit the tilting of the bucket B through a very large angle, despite the fact that the extension of the jack 2 is not excessive.

Conversely, it is only necessary to shorten the span of jack 2 to bring the bucket back to the position shown in FIG. 1. This contraction may be effected either by using a double-action jack or by employing the weight of the bucket B to restore the jack 2.

It will be observed that the device which has just been described may be reversed according to the needs of levelling or the results to be obtained. One reversal may be effected by leaving the pin 5 on the bucket and the pins 7 and 8 on the chassis, and by turning the linkage so as to bring the pins 4 and 6 towards the rear of the vehicle. It would also be possible to reverse the mechanism by locating the pin 5 on the chassis A and the pins 7 and 8 under the bucket B as shown in FIG. 4. In any case, such a mechanism makes it possible to apply the stresses to portions having maximum strength both on the chassis A and the bucket B.

It should be understood that the above description has been given by way of example, since the linkage dimensions and pivot points may be varied to suit the conditions found in practice.

Although the linkage has been described and shown as being provided singly, it should be understood that it may be provided in duplicate, one on each side of the vehicle chassis.

I claim:

1. An elevator mechanism for tilting a bucket carried on a vehicle and comprising a tie rod pivoted on the chassis of the vehicle, an extending jack pivoted on the chassis at a different point from that of said tie rod, and ahead thereof with respect to the vehicle, a triangular lever, pivot points at two of the apices thereof for said link and said jack, a tilting bucket, a pivot for the rear of said bucket, and a pivot interconnecting said bucket and said triangular lever, the locations of said pivots being such that the centre lines of said link and said jack intersect during initial bucket movement.

2. An elevator mechanism for tilting a bucket carried 4 on a vehicle and comprising a tie rod pivoted on said bucket, an extending jack pivoted on said bucket at a different point from that of said tie rod and ahead thereof With respect to the vehicle, a triangular lever, pivot points 5 at two of the apices thereof for said link and said jack,

a pivot for the rear of said bucket and a pivot interconnecting said triangular lever and the chassis of said vehicle, the locations of said pivots being such that the centre lines of said link and said jack intersect during 10 initial bucket movement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD J. JOHNSON, Primary Examiner. 

